LoHi's Velvet Lasso is already leveling up. The café that opened earlier this year is taking over the neighboring storefront at 3254 Navajo Street and turning it into a nighttime bar and lounge, a move that will nearly double both its staff and its footprint. The former Noisette address is being remade into a moody, living room-style venue built for DJs, chef pop-ups, and late-night small plates, shifting Velvet Lasso from a daytime bakery-and-sandwich stop to an all-day hangout that keeps the neighborhood buzzing well into the evening. Owners say the expansion should extend service later and create more hospitality jobs on the block.
Per the Denver Business Journal, Velvet Lasso plans to nearly double its staff as it takes over the neighboring unit and grows its footprint. The café debuted with a Valentine’s Day opening and has been drawing steady crowds during soft openings and early service, according to DiningOut Denver.
When the lounge will arrive
Owners are aiming for an April 20 opening for the lounge, though the space is still under construction, Westword reports. The add-on is designed as a darker, sultrier extension of the existing café and is expected to operate mainly on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, with Sundays set aside for community pop-ups and a planned industry night on Mondays.
What to expect at night
The evening program will center on shareable small plates, steak frites and playful combos like a so-called "girl dinner" paired with cocktails from a back bar, while a DJ booth and intimate seating aim for a cozy living room vibe, DiningOut Denver reports. The team already includes pastry lead Wynter Sierra and head chef Cole Sinatra, who helped build out the daytime menu and are expected to shape the lounge's food and pastry offerings as well, according to New Denizen.
Why this matters for LoHi
Velvet Lasso is moving into a block that until recently housed Noisette, and the expansion underscores a broader pattern of day-to-night concepts helping anchor nightlife in the Highlands. Westword has chronicled the space's quick turnover, while Visit Denver now counts Velvet Lasso among the recent LoHi openings that are reshaping the neighborhood's evening scene.
Owners frame the shift as both a growth move and a neighborhood investment: more evening programming, more late shifts for hospitality workers and extra opportunities for local chefs and pop-ups to plug into the space. For the latest hours, menus, and hiring notices, the Velvet Lasso site is the go-to spot for updates: Velvet Lasso.
